Local service providers are grappling with new work requirements that recipients of CalFresh will have to meet over the coming months.

Organizations in Eureka are bolstering training programs and coordinating volunteer opportunities, aiming to help people meet requirements their food security depends on.

Still, thousands are expected to lose benefits, something projected to add strain to the local hunger safety net.

Incoming requirements could kick 3,500 local people off CalFresh

Starting June 1 in California, adults from ages 18-64 will have to work, volunteer or train at least 80 hours a month to keep food benefits, with some exceptions.

Alisha Babel, Humboldt County’s CalFresh program manager, said the county has had a waiver for decades exempting people here from work rules, due to the area’s high unemployment rate.

But now, so-called “Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents” will need to meet work requirements to get benefits for more than three months in a 36-month period.

Babel said people will have to meet these requirements once they renew their benefits, meaning it could be up to a year before some will see the change. But anyone newly applying for CalFresh will have to meet these standards after June 1.

There are a few exceptions. People who are disabled, homeless, students in school more than half time, pregnant, or have children under 14 aren’t subject to these requirements. Click here to find exemptions.

These requirements for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, were put into law in July 2025’s H.R. 1. When fully implemented, up to 4 million people may lose some or all of their food assistance, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates.

In Humboldt County, about 3,500 people are expected to be affected by the change, according to a county estimate.

According to a recent UC Davis Labor and Community Center report, 22.5% of Humboldt County residents aged 18 to 59 were enrolled in CalFresh in 2024. That’s more than double the statewide rate.

Local organizations prepare for new requirements

To prepare for the changes, local service providers are getting their ducks in a row to help people meet the demands.

Uplift Eureka, which regularly offers trainings to help people get jobs, is relaunching their Job Skills Training Program in June. The program, funded by a CalTrans grant, will have participants pick up litter, learn mural painting from artist Lucas Thornton and attend classroom training on job skills.

“We’re already outreaching to potential participants that might be interested in this to make sure that they are aware that this is available. And we’re working closely with the county to make sure that they know that this is a program that will meet those work requirements,” said Sierra Wood, Uplift’s community resources program coordinator.

Workers at Uplift Eureka’s Community Resource Center host periodical Pathway to Payday training sessions, and offer general access to training on interview skills and phones and computers to help people get jobs.

Uplift is preparing a system to link people with local organizations to volunteer at to meet the requirements.

“We can help them identify which organizations are seeking volunteers and how many hours they’re looking for, what the work would be, connecting them directly with those organizations, and then assisting them with completing the time tracking requirements that the county requires,” said Wood. She said this — along with training — will help people working part time supplement their hours to meet the requirement.

Uplift’s Eureka’s computers pictured in 2025, which people can use to apply for jobs. Photo: Andrew Goff

Meanwhile, the County is aiming to refer as many people as possible to a county CalFresh employment training. Eligibility specialists there have been preparing for months to implement and walk people through the new requirements.

Still, staff at Uplift are not expecting to be able to help everyone keep their benefits — and social workers say they are concerned with the work requirements themselves.

Wood said local chains often keep people working low hours. Clients of the resource center struggle to match job schedules with bus schedules and childcare.

“It’s a difficult time to find work as well,” she added.

Those in rural areas of the county are particularly expected to struggle to meet requirements, with limited job or volunteer opportunities or internet access.

And because of the paperwork, which Wood said puts the onus on the recipient who is already experiencing financial insecurity, there’s a chance people will opt to give up their benefits.

“Food insecurity is a huge issue here, and oftentimes these benefits are what some people are solely using to get food. They don’t have their own income to rely on, so they’re using CalFresh benefits and then different food pantries like Food for People. So losing access to this means not having adequate meals, not having nutritious meals,” said Wood.

Jeff Davis, Uplift project manager, said alongside other decisions at the federal level, some will see a spread of their benefits go away.

“Their health care, their food and their housing might all be simultaneously impacted by actions at the federal level, and it could be catastrophic,” he said.

Food For People hopes changes can still be reversed

Humboldt County’s food bank expects these requirements to jack up use of the food bank, which the organization saw late last year when SNAP benefits were delayed during a government shutdown.

They’re expecting wide ripple effects from changes in H.R. 1, if they are solidified in an upcoming piece of legislation.

“It’s scary for anyone out there who is in the food security world, because food insecurity, hunger is only going up, even before these changes have started,” said Carly Robbins, executive director of Food for People.

“We’re all seeing it. Food costs more, housing, gas, all of that costs more. So getting the food you need on the table has only become harder for the average American,” she said.

The House passed a version of the bill locking in the $187 billion in cuts to SNAP last week.

Senate Democrats are pushing for SNAP changes enacted in H.R. 1 to be amended, amid ongoing debates over long-deferred updates to the Farm Bill, which funds the vast majority of the SNAP program.

In a statement, Food For People said the Farm Bill changes that will threaten food security include increased state administrative cost, SNAP benefit cost-sharing for states, and the $187 billion in cuts to SNAP.

Food For People is hopeful the changes can be walked back under the Farm Bill.

“Food banks cannot tackle food security alone. For every meal a food bank provides, SNAP delivers nine,” Food For People’s statement said. 

Babel, from Humboldt County, emphasized eligibility specialists are there to answer questions and support people through the paperwork.

“We’ll definitely be looking at the regulations so that we can maintain eligibility for as many people as possible,” said Babel.

For those in Eureka interested in being linked with employment programs, Uplift Eureka’s resource center is located at located at 1111 E Street and their phone number is 707-441-4242.

Isabella Vanderheiden contributed to this report